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THE PNG Tax Review Committee plans to modernise the tax system by streamlining and rationalising the tax and revenue administration. Chairman Sir Nagora Bogan said the committee would embrace the use of information technology to speed up the process and assist in the assessment of taxes.“The quicker you have the money in the bank, you have the economic benefit of making interest on that,” he said. “Right now with the manual system, cheques go through a long process and by the time it reaches IRC (Internal Revenue Commission), it will be a month or two late.” He said the clearing of cheques at the banks took another 14 days. The committee will look at ways to use information technology to assist in that area. Sir Nagora said that part of the committee’s task would be to discuss with revenue authorities see how they could improve the collection process to recover money owed in tax to the Government.He said there had to be a balance where authorities ensured that their services were provided rather than be harsh in wielding the law to force people to pay.He said there were a lot of institutional issues that needed to be looked into to improve the service of the revenue administration. “We have to ensure that IRC and Customs have the degree of independence because they’re struggling at the moment.”The committee comprises Sir Nagora as chairman, David Sode as deputy chairman, Sir John Luke Crittin, Lady Aivu Tauvasa and John Lohberger